Paula Laws.
Courtesy photo/Paula lawsEighteen months ago, Manistee resident Paula Laws was living a normal life. One day, she approached her friend Jackie Gutowski about joining her for weight training sessions.
Laws wanted to get stronger. Gutowski proposed powerlifting as an avenue to fill the want.
On March 12, 2023, Laws will be competing in her first powerlifting competition. She will also be vying for the national dead lift record for her age and weight group.
Like many people who dive head first into the sport, pain becomes a factor. Muscle fiber break down and strengthen over time while training for the sport's three lifts: back squat, bench press and deadlift. Laws was no exception to the aches and pains.
"I was definitely sore (in the beginning), especially the second day after," Laws said. "It seems like until your muscles start to get that memory ... you got to kind of just push through."
Manistee's Paula Laws (center) works on her deadlift form during a training session on Jan. 30, 2023.
Courtesy photo/Paula lawsLaws' history of injuries didn't help initially. She knew that her back would need to be iced every night. The pain in her hips would be an obstacle. Lifting weight quickly became a sense of relief, especially in Gutowski's eyes.
"After she started lifting I feel like a lot of that pain started going away," Gutowski said. "I was a little apprehensive at first. We started real light. We started with basically nothing on the bar. Her dead lift is pretty impressive."
Laws' discovered a way to turn her physical pain into a physical peace of mind.
To hear more about Paula Laws' journey through powerlifitng, checkout episode 3 of The Sports Advocates podcast now available on YouTube, Spotify, manisteenews.com and at the end of this story.
"Each time I went I really started to enjoy it more, which is strange for me because I've never really liked any form of exercise," Laws said. "Until now it doesn't seem like exercise. I actually enjoy going. If I have to miss a day I ask 'when can I get in to make up for that day' so I know the strength that I've built up."
The facility which Laws and Gutowski train at is a one of a kind environment.
When workout centers were forced to temporarily shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gutowski and her husband decided to build a home gym in their basement. When their gym equipment was unable to fit through any doorway in their home, they decided to build an 800-square foot pole barn. The facility is heated and cooled, filled with gym equipment and creates a low-pressure atmosphere.
Paula Laws goes through a back squat workout.
Courtesy photo/Paula lawsLaws and Gutowski don't have to sit around and wait for someone else to finish working out on a machine. The tandem can play any music as loud as they desire. They can dance around in between sets and scream in joy when someone hits a personal record.
"You don't have to worry about anybody else being in there," Laws said. "(Gutowski) just focuses on helping me during the hour that I'm there."
Gutowski and Laws will compete in an American Powerlifting Federation event in Rocherster Hills on March 12. Laws' personal-record deadlift of 215 pounds already tops the state record of 210 pounds. She see's that the work is beginning to show, especially when she looks in the mirror to look at the growth of her biceps, shoulders and traps.
"I feel pretty good about it. I feel like I'm getting stronger," Laws said. "I said to Jackie a couple of weeks ago that I don't feel really nervous yet. Maybe it'll come like right before, but right now I feel pretty good.
"Never would I guess I'd be doing this, especially at 53. I'm excited though."
